The Russellville City Council will include two new aldermen at the beginning of the year, although one is pretty familiar with city government.

By a mere 36 votes, former Mayor Phil Carruth defeated Kenneth L. Henderson in Tuesday's runoff election for the Ward 1, Position 2 City Council seat. According to unofficial results from the Pope County Clerk's Office, Carruth garnered 948 votes to 912 for Henderson. Alderman Andrea Lea will vacate the position at the end of the year.

Russellville businessman Randal Crouch defeated incumbent Paul T. Gray 1,094 to 755 votes Tuesday for the Ward 4, Position 1 seat on the City Council. Crouch and Carruth will take their seats on the Russellville City Council on Jan. 1, 2005.

"I want to thank all the people who came out in this bad weather to vote," Carruth said Tuesday night at the Pope County Courthouse after the votes were tallied. "I also want to express my admiration for my opponent. He's a fine man. Although I didn't know him very well before, we've talked several times during the election. I expect Mr. Henderson will be getting involved more and more in leadership positions. I think he will do well at that.

"I am just really excited now that I will, again, be able to serve the citizens of this city. I believe I will able to help the other seven members of the council try to wade through this current financial mess we're in. I'm excited about being elected tonight, and eager to start my service in January."

Carruth, a retired businessman, garnered 43 percent (3,518) of nearly 8,100 votes cast during the Nov. 2 general election. Henderson (2,384), a local businessman, totaled 30 percent. Mark Vaughn, the third candidate in the race, received 27 percent (2,197).

Crouch explained Tuesday night he believed his unofficial margin of victory (339 votes) was a statement by the voters.

"I think the people are telling us that they are tired of taxes," Crouch said. "They want us to live within our budget. We need to look at what we're doing, learn to live within our buget, like a business does. A business has to live within its budget, Phil and I are businessmen and that's the way we think the city should operate.

"I've talked to a lot of people over the last few months, and my game is you've got to listen. You've got to learn what the city wants. This is not a city that should be run by just a few people. It's a city that should be run by the folks in this city. That's what I want to do is listen, learn and react. I'm looking forward to it. It's going to be exciting."

Gray, a Russellville High School teacher, reached Tuesday's runoff with 42 percent (3,293) of the vote Nov. 2. He will face challenger Randal Crouch, a local businessman, who received 37 percent (2,884) of the 7,800 votes cast. Gerhard Langguth received 1,627 votes, or 21 percent.

Candidates who received the most votes would have had to garner 50 percent plus one vote of the total votes cast Nov. 2.